VALLEY, Virgin Gorda, VI- Representative for the Ninth District Dr The Hon Hubert O’Neal said while he is aware that the role of the Opposition is to be the watchdog of good governance, he felt disrespected when a meeting to which he was not even invited to, turned into a public bashing exercise on him.

According to Hon O’Neal, the leader of the Opposition Hon Julian Fraser RA (R3) called him two Saturdays ago informing him as a form of “courtesy” of the November 2, 2016 meeting at the Catholic Community Centre. The Ninth District Representative O’Neal said he is aware that congress was coming up and the Opposition Leader was vying for leadership for their party and was seeking support from supporters of their Virgin Islands Party (VIP). However, he was not expecting to be the main topic of discourse!

‘Unprecedented & disrespectful’

“I certainly did not expect that it would turn into a bashing affair to me. That to me was disrespectful as the district representative…and this is unprecedented, never in our political history has one district representative gone to another district and bash the representative. And why I find it so disrespectful is that I am a new member of the House [of Assembly] and you expect some guidance from a more senior member. He has been around for over 20 odd years, I expect him to come to me if some of my constituency come to him complaining about something I did or didn’t do,” Hon O’Neal pointed out.

“I have problems with that, this is total disrespect and I will not tolerate it.”

Hon O’Neal made the statement during a town hall meeting at the Catholic Community Centre in Virgin Gorda last evening, Wednesday November 9, 2016. The purpose of the meeting was to update the people on the progress of work being done as well as plans for the district.

According to Hon O’Neal, if Hon Fraser had concerns he should have called him to the meeting or even discussed it with him.

District Rep told to be more accessible

One man suggested that he makes himself available whenever those meetings are held in the district so that he will be able to defend himself as the need arises. Another argued that the district has issues that needed to be addressed and he should be made more accessible and engage the community since they are the ones who voted him in and are giving him a fair chance to prove himself.

He said Hon Fraser saw a loophole and he capitalised on it.

Hon Fraser’s meeting

The meeting with the Opposition Leader spoke on many issues, including the alleged inability by constituents to reach Hon O’Neal, going as far as suggesting that it may be a case of disrespect for the Representative through assistance by his own National Democratic Party (NDP).

Hon Fraser had pointed out that the shortcomings of any Representative of the Ninth District could be blamed on them having the lack of reach and that just a few days ago he was presented with the perfect case. He said a resident of Anegada had copied him in on a letter written to Dr O’Neal complaining about their inability to meet with him after several failed attempts.

“I tried to get an appointment to meet with you several times. You have refused to give me an appointment. The times that I tried for an appointment are #1 Friday, February 12th, 2016 #2 Wed. February 24th, 2016 #3 Wed. April 6th, 2016 #4 Wed. June 1st, 2016 #5 Wed. July 6th, 2016 #6 Wed. Sept 7th, 2016, and #7 Friday, Sept. 23rd, 2016,” the letter to Dr O’Neal stated.

Hon Fraser said the sender of the letter had traveled from Anegada to Tortola on each occasion they attempted to reach the representative without success. This letter was postmarked October 10, 2016, and Hon Fraser said he called the individual on Friday, October 25, 2016.

Matter of being inaccessible ‘laughable’

In response, Hon O’Neal thought the matter laughable since the same person is a client of his. He said the people can meet with him on Wednesdays and Saturdays, through his full-time secretary, or even through his personal contact.

Other issues raised in the Hon Fraser meeting was an alleged unfair distribution of work in Anegada, food shortage at the Senior Citizens Home, and the call for regular office hours.

Hon O’Neal said persons can look forward to having a meeting with him every three months, and reminded them that he has been in office for just one year and five months, and everything will not be done in that time frame.

38 Responses to “I will not tolerate ‘disrespect’ from Hon Fraser- Hon O’Neal”

why are these politicians so sensitive, i guess the truth do hurt. the opposition leaders' job it not to coach someone he is trying to unseat, that the job of people in your party. Instead of crying foul just do better, it's not disrespectful for the opposition leader to do his job. ummm I think you just lost your seat and it's not even election time yet

This fool going on like somebody come in his eye shop to embarrass him and he could knock them out. Mr. Politician, we already see how the young people, especially the young men solving issues by being physical. Raise the bar and set your standards high. According to Mrs. Obama: "when they go low, you go high". You represent Virgin Gorda, but Virgin Gorda ain't yours. Fraser or anybody for that matter have a right to take a microphone and go wherever they want as long as its not on your property. NDP too thin skin. Always get offended when they get criticize. Cut your crap and get out and represent the people who trusted you with their X. You are now showing that their vote was only an equation X and now we have to find 'X"

This veteran politician who contested the election against his namesake crying bout he's a junior. Hah am choking at the old baby, yep an old baby wanting to be lifted and suck on boobes on the job. Did you not know what the job description was when you applied? Now you get the baton you a drop or mishandle or running in the wrong lane. Don't you know that will disqualify you man. All other representatives getting the PEOPLES job done except YOU. Now why is that? If you can't speak for the people to your colleagues then why are you in such a position? Stop your whining like a little girl, go do your job or call it quits. It seem it'll be better to have another opposition rep making noise on behalf of the people than you complaining about people making you bad.

Oh poor thing. What a cry cry baby. Go and represent the people who elect you and stop your darm crying. It takes a visit from Fraser to get you out of your slumber. Hon. Fraser should visit more to ensure the people of VG see you more

Check out the British Parliament from time to time, you will see "cut throat politics" Frazer is out of order. He is not an at large candidate. He is campaigning to become leader of the opposition so he is out trying to gain mileage. How is it Ok for him to go in the member’s district to publicly criticize him in a political meeting? I hope the dying VIP party doesn’t make the mistake of nominating him Leader of anything or it will surely be dead. With 20 more days to the VIP congress, we need to see some real candidates step up. Robert Mactavious, Gerard Farara, Dancia Penn, Colin Oneal , Carl Dawson, James Todman, Ronald Georges, Irad Potter, Antoinette Skelton, Leslie-ann Faulkner etc. etc. etc. I do not know their political affiliation but we need to recruit new members.

"He is campaigning to become leader of the opposition" what foolishness, Fraser is campaigning for nothing, he is already Leader of the Opposition. And as Leader of the Opposition he can go in any District whenever he pleases.

He mentioned in another news site that he would punch Fraser in the jawbone, LOL. All Fraser have to do is poke this man with his index finger and he will drop like a flapping fish out of water. This guy can't beat a fly much less punch someone in the jawbone. He reminds me of Urkell the geek, hehehehe, did I do thattt.

What a disappointment. I think the NDP needs to educate Dr. O'Neal on the political process, rather than allowing him to embarrass himself. If he had known better, he would have realized that Hon. Fraser is the opposition leader for the entire country and he could go into any district once he extends a courtesy to the respective District representative. Dr. O'Neal needs to avail himself and visit the district more often. He comes like Nicodemus at nights. During that time he cannot accomplish much. If he knows that he had wanted to be in politics then he should have fixed his priority. I will not got to his office because when he was looking for votes he came to the people's house. Now he is asking people to come to him.

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